The Banerjees moved through the gallant halls of the Alzaras palace, which were richly decorated with paintings, sculptures and designed in a beauty befitting a royal palace. Still, at that point, all these were just scenes that didn't register in Aaron and Ishaan's minds as they walked, although they seemed to be composed, their faces said something else.
As they stood before the gates to the royal family's private chambers, the boys were visibly shaking, but Mr and Mrs Banerjee came close and placed their hands on their shoulders, trying to soothe them.
As the door opened, they saw the royal family, the king and queen seated on the couch, folding their hands in anticipation. The girls had changed out of their ceremonial gowns — Isabella in simple midnight blue, Estella in something softer than Ishaan had ever seen her wear. No embroidery. No gloves.
As Aaron and Ishaan moved in the hall, King Louis stood up with his Queen Annabeth, and as they came face to face with the family, they did the most unexpected thing: the entire royal family bowed down to the Banerjees
"We apologise, Aaron and Ishaan Banerjee, for the pain we have caused you", King Louis said this with a commanding yet apologetic voice.
"We understand our girls might have hurt your feelings in ways we can't imagine, yet still we ask for your forgiveness and ask you please not take out your grief on them, as it was really not their fault", Queen Annabeth said this with a warmth and apologetic tone of a mother.
Mr and Mrs Banerjee were caught off guard with the sudden bowing and all.
"I am sorry to all of you, Mr and Mrs Banerjee and to you, Aaron" Isabella bowed as he eyes filled with tears.
"We are sorry. I know saying it won't change much, but still, I know it hurts. You guys think we played you, but it isn't like that. We couldn't say even if we wanted to. It was after all a..." Estella was cut short as Ishaan spoke out.
"Please, your highnesses, don't bow to us. We were just happy we could help, and we are more than happy to have been able to enjoy our time like how many people can say they spent one-on-one time with princesses?" Ishaan is saying this, trying to put on a fake charade.
"Yes, please, we are used to being like this, it's fine, we will recover after all, we were just some commoners who are happy we could be of service to you" Aaron said it with a smile, but his heart had had enough of it as a tear trickled down his face.
The king was stunned at these two boys who had faced much harsher conditions than most people yet had the power to smile, although this.
"I see", the king sighed with a sense of guilt as Isabella and Estella stood there, trying their best not to break down.
"I still wish to let you know of the truth, after which it is up to you what you boys wish to do, so I would like it if you could please spare your time" King Louis invited the family to settle down
Before Aaron and Ishaan could say anything else, the parents gave them a look of dismissal and asked them to sit.
As they sat down, King Louis told them about an ancient decree upheld by the royal family since the founding of Alzaras.
"As per this decree, during the time period that the heir is among the commoners they mustn't tell or let anyone know of their identity as the heir to the throne, because if they do that they would be tried in the court of justice and beside them losing the right to ascend the throne they would also receive punishment ranging from exile to death"
As the final words left King Louis's mouth, the room stood silent, the boys now finally realising the gravity of things, clutching their hands into a tight fist.
"So you know, even if we wanted to tell you anything, we were under constant surveillance by spies all over the kingdom, and if anything we said exposed our identity, we would have ended in a very bad position" Estella stepped up in front of Ishaan, her head still down with guilt.
"Even still, we enjoyed our time with you; you gave us a warmth we had never felt, for once we truly felt as we were seen, not as princesses but for who we were, though it may have been short. But every word, every moment — it was real. And somewhere in all of it… We fell for you." Isabella was sitting near Aaron, who had his hands over his face as he tried to process all of this.
"Ishaan, will you not forgive us? Was our time, the time we spent together, so bad that you are willing to let it go like this?" Estella held Ishaan's hand.
Aaron and Ishaan, now visibly shaken and conflicted, stood up after a pause.
"We need to go get some fresh air. Please excuse us" With this, they moved out of the room, heading towards the garden.
As they entered the garden, Ishaan, not being able to hold it in anymore, erupted
"DAMN IT…..DAmn it all… why had it had to end like this… if they had just used us, it would have been easier to deal with" Ishaan now bursting into tears.
"I know what you are saying, it's too much for me to also process at this point, I really thought… like damn, now I am more confused than ever", Aaron said, holding his head.
"Should we just all of this go and just go back to India…" Ishaan is still asking, tears falling from his face
"I wish it were simple, man, you and I both know if we go with that, we will never be able to see them ever again… are you prepared for that?" Aaron asked with a saddened look.
"Bro… no, I am not ready for that", Ishaan said, now calming down a bit.
"Nonetheless, we have a lot to process, let go of alone for a bit, ya", Aaron said as he started to walk towards the sitting area
"Ya, fine, I guess", Ishaan said, walking off in the opposite direction.
After some time, the boys parted ways. A soft footstep came near Aaron. It was Isabella. Aaron didn't look up, just kept looking at the moon.
"Hey, Aaron, I…" Isabella was cut short.
"You know, today, Ishaan and I went, and I think searched the entire country just to locate you guys," Aaron spoke, his tone caught between bitterness and tired amusement.
Isabella lowered her gaze. "I know… and I wish I could've run to you the moment I saw you tonight. But I couldn't. Not like that."
Aaron let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "You know what's funny? When I saw you standing there in that gown, next to the King and Queen, it didn't even feel real. For a second, I thought maybe I was dreaming. You looked so different—no, you felt different."
"Aaron", Isabella called out his name.
"Yet knowing what I now know, I am very confused. A part of me is torn apart because of the betrayal I feel, and another just knows can't live without you, a paradox indeed" Aaron now finally looking at her.
"Tell me… Aaron, what should I do to make you forgive… it may seem selfish, but I can't bear it if you hate me forever. Please just tell me I'll do any…" Isabella was caught off guard as Aaron lay his head on her lap.
"Well, if you are planning to gain my forgiveness, let's see why don't you gently stroke my head, it's killing me, if you do, I might think of forgiving you", Aaron said with a genuine grin, the most genuine one he gave today.
Isabella was caught off guard, yet gave a soft chuckle as she wiped her tears, "You are impossible, you know", and proceeded to stroke his head gently as he closed his eyes in comfort.
On the other hand, Ishaan, who had now finally calmed down, was walking along a flower path, and as he walked through the path, a single white flower caught his eye as it was getting illuminated by the moon.
He bent down, and with a gentle look, he tried to study the flower; his hand was just touching its petals just enough that it wasn't disturbed.
As he was admiring the petal, Estella gently came and, without saying anything, just sat next to Ishaan.
"You know that flower in Alzaras represents tough or harsh luck", Estella said in a low voice.
Ishaan, after listening, gave a small, gentle smile "Well, it seems the flower also has something in common, hmph?" Ishaan looked at Estella.
She didn't reply instantly; she just looked down, trying to avoid Ishaan's gaze.
"You know I have been thinking about what you said back then about you being someone who is easily forgotten. Well, I can't say for others, but the time I spent with you, every vendor we negotiated, every conversation we had, it is just way too valuable for me to forget." Estella looked at Ishaan, her eyes heavy with guilt.
"So Ishaan, I know it may be hard, and I know you may never want to ever see me, but Ishaan, I love yo…." Before Estella could finish, Ishaan closed in and kissed her on her forehead.
"You dummy, really, just let it go, if we are being honest, saying all that i know was also not fair to you" Ishaan now looked her in her eyes, "But now knowing what I know and even before that, I thought about if i could live without ever telling you what i felt for you and the answer became clear today night" Ishaan took her hand and rested his face against her hand
"Estella von Alzaras, leaving everything, I just wish to hear from you, do you accept this chaotic monkey's feeling?" Ishaan smirking.
Estella gently laughed and placed her head on his head, "Seriously, you know I really thought you had matured"
Estella grabbed Ishaan's face, "Ishaan Banerjee, I look forward to our relationship. I place myself in your care"
For a while, neither of them moved. The garden was quiet except for the distant sound of the fountain and the soft rustle of wind through the flower path. The white bloom still caught the moonlight beside them, unhurried.
Eventually, Estella lifted her head. Something in her expression had shifted — lighter, almost mischievous.
"You know," she said, "Isabella and I may have already told Father something before all of this."
Ishaan raised an eyebrow. "Told him what?"
"That if we were going to spend our year abroad anywhere…" she paused, straightening up with exaggerated composure, "it should probably be India."
Ishaan stared at her. "You're joking."
Estella's smile gave nothing away. "Am I?"
Before he could respond, Aaron's voice carried across the garden from the other direction — "Ishaan." Flat. Disbelieving.
Ishaan looked over. Aaron was already on his feet, Isabella standing beside him with the same carefully neutral expression Estella was wearing.
The brothers looked at each other.
"Did you know about this?" Aaron asked.
"Just found out," Ishaan said. "You?"
"Same."
A beat of silence. Then they both looked back at the girls, who were now very deliberately not making eye contact with each other in the way people do when they are absolutely making eye contact with each other.
"We should go back inside," Isabella said simply.
Inside, the fire had burned lower. The King was standing when they entered, and something in his posture told the boys this was not going to be a short conversation.
What followed was formal, measured, and completely at odds with the chaos of the last hour. King Louis laid out the proposal — the year abroad, India, the Banerjee household — in the careful language of a man who had made his decision long before tonight and was only now saying it out loud.
The boys listened. Their parents listened. Nobody interrupted.
When the King finished, Aaron turned slowly to Isabella.
"You told him before you told us."
"We suggested it," she said. "He decided."
"That's not an answer."
Her lips curved. "No. It isn't."
Mr Banerjee exhaled through his nose — the particular sound he made when he was trying not to laugh. Mrs Banerjee was already smiling at the Queen, the kind of smile shared between two people who have both spent years managing impossible people.
"If it is truly their choice," Mr Banerjee said, looking at his sons, "then we'll open our home to them."
Aaron looked at Isabella once more. She was watching him — not with the composed royal stillness he'd seen on the balcony tonight, but with something quieter. Hopeful. A little uncertain.
He exhaled.
"Welcome to India," he said. "You're going to hate the traffic."
Isabella laughed — sudden and genuine, the kind she couldn't have planned. And Aaron, despite everything the night had cost him, found that he was smiling too.
Across the room, Ishaan was already telling Estella she'd need at least three layers of thermals for Delhi winters. She was telling him Delhi wasn't even cold. He was telling her she had no idea what she was talking about.
The King watched his daughters — really watched them — for the first time in years without the weight of ceremony between them. The Queen's hand found his.
Outside, the white flower still caught the moonlight. Unhurried. Still there.